Arsenal arrived at Villa Park with attacking depth but limited defensive resources, with only 16-year-old Marli Salmon among centre-back substitutes. Emiliano Buendia scored near full-time to give Aston Villa a 2-1 win. Arsenal began the match without Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba for only the fourth time since 2022-23, and Cristhian Mosquera remained sidelined until the new year. Arsenal and Villa will meet again on 30 December. Newcastle's Aaron Ramsdale looked uneasy with corners and high balls in a 2-1 win over Burnley, making shaky punches. With Nick Pope injured and John Ruddy 39, Ramsdale stays first-choice. Yoane Wissa impressed off the bench and Bruno Guimaraes scored directly from a corner; Lucas Pires was sent off.
"When the team sheets landed at Villa Park, Arsenal's matchday squad again appeared imperious. Their bench included a 64m striker in Viktor Gyokeres, a trio of tricky wingers in Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli and arguably England's most exciting teenagers in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. But Arsenal arrived top-heavy, the only centre-back among the substitutes the 16-year-old Marli Salmon."
"By the time Emiliano Buendia clinched victory for Aston Villa with almost the final kick, it was clear Arsenal lacked the defensive solidity behind their pace-setting start; this defeat was only the fourth time since the start of 2022-23 that Mikel Arteta's side began a league game without Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba and it showed. Cristhian Mosquera, potentially sidelined until the new year, was also absent."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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